Ex-Hong Kong youth cricketer completes run across Sri Lanka in world-beating 6½ days

A former Hong Kong youth cricketer has set a world record after running the length of Sri Lanka in just over six and a half days, overcoming a journey beset by problems, during which “nothing went to plan”.

Rahul Sharma, 24, said he faced a slew of obstacles along the way – from logistical chaos to unbearable heat and physical exhaustion – but eventually overcame them with strong faith and support from people around the world.

He completed the journey in six days and 13 hours, and was confirmed by the London-based World Book of Records on Friday as the fastest person to run from the north to the south of the country.

The Melbourne-based exercise physiologist also raised more than A$20,000 (HK$104,200) for the Children’s Cancer Institute, a Sydney-based research organisation dedicated to curing childhood cancer, with more than half of the donations coming from Hong Kong.

Born and raised in the city, Sharma had played at the Hong Kong Cricket Club since he was 10 years old. He also represented Hong Kong’s under-19 cricket team from 2018 to 2019, before a string of injuries forced him to take time off from the sport.

He moved to Australia in 2023 to finish an undergraduate programme in sports and exercise science while taking up running as a hobby.

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